Heterogeneous cellular automata model for straight-through bicycle traffic at signalized intersection

• Cellular automata model is utilized to simulate the straight-through bicycle traffic at signalized intersection.
• The model particularly describes the dispersion phenomenon existing in the straight-through bicycle traffic.
• The influence of dispersion phenomenon on the performance of the heterogeneous bicycle traffic is estimated.
• Bicycles interactions in terms of spilling maneuvers and overtaking maneuvers during the straight-through movements are quantified.

This paper presents a cellular automata (CA) model to elucidate the straight-through movements of the heterogeneous bicycle traffic at signalized intersection. The CA model, via simulation, particularly exposits the dispersion phenomenon existing in the straight-through bicycle traffic. The nonlane-based cycling behavior and diverse bicycle properties are also incorporated in the CA model. A series of simulations are conducted to reveal the travel process, bicycles interaction and influence of the dispersion phenomenon. The simulation results show that the dispersion phenomenon significantly results in more bicycles interactions in terms of spilling maneuvers and overtaking maneuvers during the straight-through movements. Meanwhile, the dispersion phenomenon could contribute to the efficiency of the bicycle traffic, and straight-through bicycles need less time to depart the intersection under the circumstance of dispersion phenomenon. The simulation results are able to provide specific guideline for reasonably utilizing the dispersion phenomenon to improve the operational efficiency of straight-through bicycle traffic.